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The Dot
IIf you're lusting for a Gibson ES-335, but can't swing the lofty price, the Epiphone Dot is an attractive alternative. Like the original, the Dot features a laminated maple body, a glued-in mahogany neck, and a dot-inlaid fretboard. Its '57 Classic pick-ups have alnico magnets (just like the vintage units), and the cherry finish is period correct. The stop tailpiece and bonnet knobs are authentic touches, as are the "Gibson" engraved trussrod cover and the orange sticker visible through the upper f-hole. The only differences are the headstock shape, the "E" logo on the pickguard, and the bridge (which is wider than a Gibson Tune-o-matic). The Dot is well made. Its medium-sized frets are lightly polished and well shaped, the neck joint is clean, the hardware robust, and the finish is flawless.
The Dot's neck is a little girthier than the ultra-slim sticks fitted to some 335's. It fills your hand nicely, and the low action makes it a delight to play. Played through a variety of amps, the Dot does a decent job of evoking the plump shimmer of a real 335. Higher gain settings yield some of the meaty rhythm colors and round, sweet lead tones associated with Larry Carlton and Robben Ford. The Dot features oversized volume pots that preserve the highs as you roll down the volume. The tone controls offer smooth, predictable treble rolloff.
Epiphone Dot Features:
- Color: Ebony
- Body Wood: Lam Maple
- Top Wood: Maple
- Neck Wood: Maple
- Neck Profile: Set, 1-11/16" nut
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Position Markers: Dot inlay
- Scale length: 24 3/4"
- Number of Frets: 22
- Pickups: 2 humbuckers
- Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone
- Pickup Switching: 3-way selector
- Hardware: Chrome
- Machine Heads: Grover tuners
- Bridge/Tailpiece: Stopbar
If you're looking for an extremely affordable ticket to get into the ES-335 ballpark, the Epiphone Dot is a home run!
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